As much as I’ve run in the rain on occasion in the past, it’s been a while since I’ve done so. As well, it’s the first time I’ve done so in the summer. Usually that amount of heavy precipitation is enough to make me stay home and curl up into a little ball, but today I felt different. Especially now that I need to hunker down to get my mileage in for that half-marathon at the end of September, I felt that I shouldn’t let something like rain stop me. Though I just have to take a moment to say here that thunderstorms are a different beast altogether. Those are dangerous–I would never run in those.

I checked the forecast on TV and the little symbol didn’t seem to convey that it was going to be grossly heavy, so I got ready and ate a Clif bar. For the longest time on these Sunday long runs I’d go in on an empty stomach. After last weeks run I was feeling really worn out and generally all-around gross. I asked one of my coaches and she told me that I really have to eat something before my run. She suggested a Clif bar because they’re high in carbs and easily digested. So, today I thought I’d give it a go. I ate one of the suckers and headed downstairs. When I peered out the window I noticed that the rain was coming down pretty hard. I hesitated for a moment, but thought that I already had my running gear on and I’d already eaten a Clif bar so it was better to just head on out and get it over with.

I grabbed a light jacket and left for the RR. When I got there, there were significantly less people there. My half group was pretty small, but more and more people gathered in until we amassed about 8 people or so. I was wearing my jacket but my coach told me that it’d be better not to wear it. She said that it’s hot outside and the wet jacket, though water resistant, will still get wet and make things pretty nasty. I was really concerned about getting soaked, but agreed that it’d be better to not have it so I stuff it back in my car. Heck, in the end I realized that no matter what I’d be getting wet–and that everyone else was in the same boat, so who cares? Indeed.

When we started, it seemed like the rain had let up ever so slightly so I was a bit relieved. Even so, we were still getting a good soaking. I ran into the occasional puddle along the way, making for that nasty squish squish squish feeling with every step. At the very least, the water was relatively warm. That’s a welcome difference from winter running in the rain when water in my shoes made my feet feel like they’d seize up.

Everything was soaked. I regretted wearing underwear. Yes. It was holding onto too much moisture. Having rain water logged around there is just unpleasant. Sure though, since everything is wet it wasn’t too bad initially, but when I came out of the rain and everything else started drying up, that area just remained wet and cold. God, how unpleasant! What would I have done? Erm…I suppose I can try to find underwear made of wicking material, or just rely on the lining in my shorts. Too much information? Nah, this is useful stuff.

This morning we covered 11.8K. Even though I felt slower, I was actually faster than last week. I was more consistent as well. By then of it, I seriously felt like I could do another few kilometres. That Clif bar really helped, eh? As well, the cool rain really kept me going. As everyone was stretching out back at the store, everyone had a smile on their face. Seriously. No one was complaining about the heat, and everyone was feeling great to have completed the distance in such weather.

Running in the rain builds character. Now, more than ever, I am convinced that that is true.